Toothbrush and container for same



March 8 7- I J, MAGEE TOOTHBRUSI I AND CONTAINER FOR SAME Filed Oct .21, 1925 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

cairn-o. STATES JOHN MAGEE; 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

TOOTHBR'USI'I AND CONTAINER FOR SAME.

Application filed October 21, 1925. Serial No. 64,0Q7.

This invention relates to tooth brushes and containers for same and aims to facilitate the retailing of such products to the ultimate consumer.

The present method of selling tooth brushes at retail has many objectionable features. If the brushes are displayed in exposed condition, they not only gather dirt but are subjected to the possible contamina tion of every prospective purchaser who wishes to run his fingers over the bristles to determine the degree of stiffness thereof. On the other hand, if the brush is enclosed in a sealed-container, the buyer is compelled to rely upon some-outside marking of the package for the character of the bristles inside and this is never so satisfactory or convincing as the actual feel of the bristles. In either case, there is a natural reluctance upon the part of the prospective purchaser to buy on the one hand a brush which he knows has probably been rubbed over by the fingers of numerous other persons and on the other hand a brush the stiffness of which is uncertain.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of means for avoiding such objectionable methods of selling tooth brushes and to supply for the retail trade a brush enclosed in a sanitary package or sealed container if desirable and yet make it possible for an intending purchaser to examine the quality and stiffness of the bristles without the possibility of contaminating the brush.

Referring to the drawings, which show illustrative embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a tooth brush and container for same;

Fig. 2 is an end view;

Fig. 3 is a section through the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of a slightly difierent container for the brush.

The tooth brush shown in the drawings comprises the handle member 1 having the usual main tufts of bristles 2 mounted thereon at one end thereof. In the present embodiment, I have shown the container as consisting of an envelope 3 adapted to enclose the main bristles 2 and leaving the handle unenclosed. The container or envelope 3 is constructed preferably of a trans parent material such as thin celluloid, waxed paper or the like and is formed in the shape of a tube to closely fit around the bristle end of the brush. The ends of the container are sealed together with glue or wax as shown at 4 and 5 or, if the container is of such material as celluloid, the ends may be crimped together.

The handle member 1 is provided with a supplemental tuft of bristles 6 preferably lo cated at the bristle end of the .brush and of the same character as the main tufts 2. The tuft 6 may be anchored into the brush handle in the same manner and at the same time as the main bristles 2, 2 during the manufacture of the brush so that there may be absolute uniformity in the degree of stiffness for both sets of bristles 2 and 6.

The tuft 6 is adapted to protrude through the container 3 and in the present embodiment the tuft 6 protrudes through the sealed end portion of the container 3 as shown in Fig. 2. The handle end likewise protrudes through the other sealed end. This arrangement provides a very simple and inexpensive construction.

In Fig. 41: I have shown a slightly different construction wherein the entire handle por tion of the brush 7 is enclosed within the container 8. The supplementary tuft 9 protudes through the sealed end portion as shown at 10, while the other end 11 is wholly sealed.

It will be seen that with a tooth brush and container such as I have devised, a prospective purchaser in order to determine with an absolute certainty the degree of stifiness of the bristles runs his fingers over the tuft 6 protruding from the container without the necessity of opening the container and without the danger of contaminating the bristles 2. This is especially advantageous tothe retailer in case the containers are sealed, as there will be no necessity of breaking the seals of the containers and a purchaser may be absolutely assured that the main bristles have never been touched by other prospective purchasers. After a purchase is made and the brush removed from the container, a snip of the shears will re move the extra tuft of bristles 6 and leave a clean, sanitary brush for use.

My invention is adapted to be employed with a tooth brush and container for same whether the container is tovbe sealed or un sealed or whether the container is constructed of a transparent material such as illustrated or of any other material and form such as cardboard or the like. Any wrapping or package is suitable so long as there is provision for the auxiliary tuft 6 to protrude therefrom. Nor do I confine myself to the location of the tuft 6 on the bristle end of the brush itself, as shown. It may project from any part .of the brush handle or back, or even from a separate member carried inside the package, the aperture in the container being located to correspond therewith. I regard as an equivalent to what I have illustrated in the drawings any arrangement wl'iere'by a supplementary tuft of bristles may be arranged to protrude through a package for the purposes described. I have shown however, a preferred embodiment of a sealed transparent container with the auxiliary tuft 6 projecting at the bristle end of the brush but the scope of the invention is to be defined by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description.

Claims:

1. The combination of a tooth brush and I a container therefor, said brush having main bristles and a supplemental tuft of bristles which are of like character to said main bristles, said container enclosing said main bristles and having provision for exposing said supplemental tuft of bristles for the purpose described.

2. The combination with a tooth brush having main bristles and asupplemental tuft of bristles which are of like character to said main bristles, of a sealed container for enclosing said main bristles and having provision for exposing said supplemental tuft of bristles for the purpose described.

3. The combination with a tooth brush having main bristles and a supplemental tuft of bristles which are of like character to said main bristles, of' a container with a transparent wall for enclosing said main bristles and having provision for exposing said supplemental tuft of bristles for the purpose described.

4. The combination with a. tooth brush comprising a handle member with a main set of bristles mounted thereon and a supplemental tuft of bristles of the same character as said main bristles projecting from an end of said handle member, of a sealed container for enclosing said handle member and main bristles with an opening therein through which said supplemental tuft of bristles protrudes for the purpose described.

v In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN 'MAGEE. 

